Scooter with removable toy

ABSTRACT

A scooter having a handlebar assembly that includes a vertical portion supporting a handlebar. The vertical portion includes an opening at its top end and the opening is configured to receive an elongate portion of a toy. The assembly also includes a ring portion at the opening of the vertical portion and the ring portion frictionally engages the elongate portion of the toy. The vertical portion and the ring portion are configured to securely support the elongate portion of the toy.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to toys for vehicles and,more specifically, to a ridable vehicle that supports a removable sticktoy.

2. Description of the Related Art

Riding on vehicles such as scooters is a popular recreational activity.Scooters have become popular among many age groups and there are manydifferent scooter variations and scooter designs. Conventional scootersgenerally have at least two wheels and some type of steering mechanism.Other scooter designs include three or more wheels. Scooter designs havealso become more compact and convenient. With the increase in scooterpopularity, there has also been a significant increase in the demand forscooter accessories.

Often, it is desirable for a rider of a vehicle or scooter to transporta toy on a vehicle or attach a toy to the vehicle. However, somevehicles require a rider to use both hands to ride or steer the vehicle.Such vehicles often include baskets or other add-on structures forcarrying additional items for the rider. Other embodiments requireadhesive or more permanent components to attach a toy to the vehicle. Itis generally desirable for the rider to transport a toy on a scooterwithout requiring the use of the rider's hands.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention involves the realization that it isalso desirable to couple a toy to a scooter without the need for basketsor additional structures for securing the toy on the vehicle. Therefore,the current arrangements in the prior art for transporting a toy on ascooter are unsuitable.

Preferred embodiments of the present scooter are configured to allow auser to securely couple a toy to a scooter or ridable vehicle. A usercan couple a toy to the scooter and transport the toy while at the sametime steering and controlling the scooter. Furthermore, preferredembodiments allow the user to conveniently remove the toy from thescooter. Furthermore, preferred embodiments are configured so that thetoy is proximate the hands of a user while the use is riding thescooter. In other preferred embodiments, the toy is held securely on thescooter and is restricted from falling out of its position on thescooter during regular riding of the scooter. Preferably, the handlebarassembly of the scooter securely engages the toy so as to restrictmovement of the toy relative to the scooter under typical ridingconditions.

A preferred embodiment is a toy combination including a scooter and astick toy. The scooter includes a body having a deck and a footrestsurface. A handlebar assembly is operably coupled to the body andincludes a vertical member extending upward relative to the deck. Thevertical member includes a top portion and a handlebar is supported bythe vertical member. The handlebar includes grip portions that areaccessible to a user riding on the scooter. The stick toy includes anelongate stick portion. The vertical member of the handlebar assemblyincludes an opening adjacent to the top portion of the vertical member.The opening is configured to receive the elongate stick portion of thetoy so that the toy is selectively securely supported by the handlebarassembly.

In some configurations, the handlebar assembly includes a retention ringportion coupled to the vertical member adjacent the opening, and theretention ring portion is configured to frictionally engage the elongatestick portion of the toy. The retention ring portion can include atleast one protruding member extending inward from an inner surface ofthe retention ring portion, and the at least one protruding memberfrictionally engages the elongate stick portion of the toy when theelongate stick portion is received within the opening.

In some configurations, the handlebar is supported by the verticalmember at a position in front of the vertical member.

In some configurations, the vertical member is a hollow tube having aninner surface that is sized and shaped to receive the elongate stickportion of the toy. A cross-section of the inner surface of the verticalmember can be circular. The hollow tube can be longer than the elongatestick portion of the toy.

An embodiment involves a scooter that has a body having a deck and afootrest surface. The scooter also includes at least one front wheel anda rear wheel supported by the body. A handlebar assembly is coupled tothe body and extends upward from the body. The handlebar assembly has avertical member and a handlebar supported by the vertical member. Thehandlebar includes grip portions accessible to a user riding thescooter. The vertical member includes an upper portion that includes anopening, which is sized and shaped to receive an elongate stick portionof a stick toy so that the stick toy is supported by the handlebarassembly.

In some configurations, the vertical member is hollow and receives theelongate stick portion of the toy when the elongate stick portion ispassed through the opening. The vertical member and the elongate stickportion can each be cylindrical in shape.

In some configurations, the handlebar assembly includes a cap portioncoupled to the vertical member adjacent the opening, the cap portionhaving a hole through which the elongate stick member of the stick toyis passed. The cap portion can be sized and shaped to frictionallyengage the elongate stick member of the stick toy when it is passedthrough the hole and into the opening. The cap portion can include oneor more flap portions.

In some configurations, the handlebar is coupled to the vertical memberat a position below the opening.

An embodiment involves a scooter that includes a body having a deck anda foot rest surface. The body also has a front portion and a rearportion. A pair of front wheels is rotatably supported by the frontportion of the body. A rear wheel is rotatably supported by the rearportion of the body. A handlebar assembly is supported by the frontportion of the body. The handlebar assembly includes a handlebarsupported by a vertical tube. A stick toy has an elongate stick memberand a head portion. The vertical tube includes a top portion that isopen and the elongate stick member of the stick toy is selectivelyreceived into the open top portion of the vertical tube so that theelongate stick member is stowed within the tube.

In some configurations, the handlebar assembly includes a retention ringportion coupled to the top portion of the vertical tube, and theretention ring portion frictionally engages the elongate stick memberwhen the elongate member is received into the vertical tube. Theretention ring portion can include multiple flap portions thatfrictionally engage the elongate stick member.

In some configurations, the handlebar is coupled to the vertical tubeforward of and below the open top portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention are described below with reference to drawings of a preferredembodiment, which is intended to illustrate, but not to limit, thepresent invention. The drawings contain five figures.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a scooter and a toyhaving certain features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a handlebar assembly of the scooter ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a handlebar assembly of the scooter ofFIG. 1 and a toy.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded view of an embodiment of a handlebarassembly and a toy.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the ring portion of the handlebarassembly of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following detailed description, terms of orientation such as“top”, “bottom”, “upward”, “downward”, “lower”, “front”, “frontward”,“rear”, “rearward”, and “end” are used to simplify the description ofthe context of the illustrated embodiments. Likewise, terms of sequence,such as “first” and “second”, are used to simplify the description ofthe illustrated embodiments. However, other orientation and sequencesare possible, and the present invention should not be limited to theillustrated orientation(s). Those skilled in the art will appreciatethat other orientations of the various components are possible.

For the purposes of this disclosure, embodiments of personal mobilityvehicles will be referred to as “scooters”, but it will be understood bythose with ordinary skill in the art that the present invention extendsbeyond the specifically disclosed embodiments and references to scootersto other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention andmodifications and equivalents thereof. In particular, while the presentsystems and methods have been described in the context of particularlypreferred embodiments as it relates to scooters, the skilled artisanwill appreciate, in view of the present disclosure, that certainadvantages, features and aspects of the systems and methods may berealized in a variety of other applications, including personal mobilityvehicles other than scooters with different arrangements of front andrear wheels.

In a preferred embodiment, a scooter includes a body having a deck and afootrest portion. The body supports a handlebar assembly that isconfigured to support a toy. Preferably the handlebar assembly includesa vertical portion that receives an elongate portion of a toy. In someembodiments, the vertical portion includes an opening that receives anelongate portion of a toy. Preferably, the opening is configured tofrictionally engage the elongate portion of a toy so that the movementof the toy relative to the vertical portion is restricted. In someembodiments, the vertical member includes a retention member or ringportion that is configured to frictionally engage the elongate portionof the toy and the ring portion can include protrusions or flaps thatengage the elongate portion.

FIG. 1 illustrates a scooter 10 having certain features, aspects andadvantages of the present invention. The scooter 10 includes a body 20,which includes a deck 26 and a handlebar assembly 24. Preferably, theupper surface of the deck 26 includes a foot rest surface 23 which isconfigured to support a foot or the feet of a user. The scooter 10includes one or more wheels 22 supported by the body 20. The illustratedscooter includes wheels 22 spaced apart from one another with the deck26 extending therebetween, such as a pair of front wheels spacedlaterally from one another and at least one rear wheel spacedlongitudinally from the front wheels. However, other numbers andarrangements of wheels can be provided, including but not limited to asingle front wheel and a single rear wheel.

As illustrated, a preferred embodiment of the scooter 10 also includes asupport portion 25 which supports the handlebar assembly 24 so that thehandlebar assembly 24 extends upward from the deck 26. Preferably, ahandlebar 27 is positioned at or near the top of the handlebar assembly24. In one embodiment, the body 20 also includes one or more toycoupling portions configured to receive and preferably retain a portionof a toy 40 and couple the toy 40 to the scooter. In one embodiment, thescooter also includes a toy supported by the scooter, and a portion ofwhich is received by a toy coupling portion of the scooter. In oneembodiment, the toy is a stick toy (e.g., a stick horse) that includesan elongate portion that is received within a toy coupling portion onthe scooter. Embodiments of the toy and the scooter that supports suchtoys are described below with reference to FIGS. 1 through 5. In theillustrated arrangements, the toy includes an elongate portion that isreceived within a corresponding void or opening on the scooter; however,arrangements in which the toy is coupled to other portions of thescooter are also possible. Preferably, each of the toy and the scooterhas separate utility as a plaything, such that the toy and the scootercan be played with separately from one another. Preferably, the toy andthe scooter also have utility as a combination. For example, the toy canadd ornamental interest to the scooter when in the stowed position.

As described, FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the scooter10 that includes the body 20, deck 26 and handlebar assembly 24.Preferably, the handlebar assembly 24 is configured to allow a rider tosteer the scooter 10 by steering at least one of the wheels 22. However,the scooter 10 can have any suitable steering mechanism, such as thesteering mechanism disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,186,693 to Korschot, theentirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.Alternatively, the steering mechanism can include one or more frontwheels that is rotatable about a steering axis and controllable by thehandlebar assembly 24.

In one embodiment, the handlebar assembly 24 includes a handlebar 27with two grip portions 32. The scooter 10 also includes a toy 40supported by the handlebar assembly 24 and adjacent the handlebar 27. Inone embodiment, the toy 40 includes a top portion 42 that is thelikeness of an animal head (e.g., a horse head, such that the toy 40 isa stick horse) or other type of head or toy feature. However, the topportion 42 can also be any type of toy or likeness.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the handlebar assembly 24 thatincludes a vertical member 43 supporting the handlebar 27. The handlebar27 includes grips 32 and generally extends horizontally andperpendicular to the vertical member 43. The handlebar 27 can be coupledto the vertical member 43 at or adjacent the middle portion of thehandlebar 27. Preferably, the vertical member 43 is configured tosupport a toy 40 and can at least substantially completely surround astick portion of the toy 40 when the toy 40 is in a stowed position. Inother embodiments, the handlebar 27 is configured to support the toy 40.As illustrated, the vertical member 43 includes an opening 44 and isconfigured to receive a portion of a toy. Preferably, the opening 44 ispositioned at or near the top of the vertical member 43. However, inother embodiments the opening 44 is positioned along the sides of thevertical member 43 or near the bottom. In other embodiments, the opening44 can be located on the handlebar 27. Alternatively, a separate member(not shown) can be coupled to the vertical member 43 or the handlebar 27and can include an opening or receiving portion configured to receive aportion of a toy.

In some embodiments, the handlebar 27 is coupled to the vertical member43 at a location forward of the opening 44. Preferably, the handlebar 27is also coupled to the vertical member 43 at a position that is lowerthan the opening 44. In other embodiments, the handlebar 27 is coupledto the vertical member behind the opening 44. The handlebar 27 can alsobe supported by the vertical member 43 via a stem or other supportmember that couples the vertical member 43 to the handlebar 27 andpositions the handlebar 27 away from the vertical member 43.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the vertical member 43 preferably supports atoy 40 so that a portion of the toy 40 extends above the vertical member43 and/or above the handlebar 27. Preferably, the toy 40 includes a topportion 42 and an elongate member or stick 48 that extends downward fromthe top portion 42. Preferably, the elongate member 48 is slidablyreceived into the opening 44. The elongate member 48 can also beslidably received and stowed within the vertical member 43 of thehandlebar assembly 24. Preferably, the shape of the opening 44corresponds to the size and shape of the cross-section of the elongatemember 48. Also, the cross-section of the inner surface(s) of thevertical member 43 can be sized and shaped to correspond to thecross-section of the outer surface of the elongate member 48. Asillustrated, the elongate member 48 is cylindrical, the opening 44 iscircular, and the inner surface of the vertical member 43 is cylindricalor circular. Preferably, the cross-section of the inner surface of thevertical member 43 is only slightly larger than the cross-section of theelongate member 48. In other embodiments, the elongate member 48 and thevertical member 43 have cross-sections that are rectangular orpolygon-shaped. The cross-sections can also be circular with one or moreflats sides. In other arrangements, the elongate member 48 and thevertical member 43 can have compatible shapes that allow the elongatemember 48 to be stowed within the vertical member 43 and whichpreferably inhibit substantial relative movement therebetween indirections perpendicular to a longitudinal axis.

Preferably, the toy 40 includes a stop portion (not shown) that contactsthe handlebar assembly 24 when the elongate member 48 is fully receivedinto vertical member 43. The stop portion can be configured to contactthe opening 44 or top portion of the vertical member 43 so that itrestricts movement of the toy 40 or elongate member 48 further downwardinto the opening 44. In some embodiments, the stop portion can be thebottom surface of the top portion 42 of the toy 40. In otherembodiments, the stop portion can be coupled to or part of the elongatemember 48. Alternatively, the top portion 42 of the toy 40 can rest onthe opening 44 or handlebar 27 when the elongate member 48 is insertedinto the vertical member 43.

As illustrated, in some embodiments, the handlebar 27 is supported bythe vertical member 43 at a position forward of the opening 44. The toy40 preferably is received into the opening 44 at a location behind thehandlebar 27 so that at least a portion of the toy 40 extends behind thehandlebar 27 and closer to a user riding the scooter 10. In someembodiments, the handlebar 27 is configured to allow the elongateportion 48 to pass through a cut-out or other opening in the handlebar27. Preferably, the handlebar 27 is coupled to the vertical member 43 ata location below the top of the opening 44. In some embodiments, thehandlebar 27 is coupled to the vertical member 43 by a bracket or othercoupling member. Preferably, the elongate member 48 can rotate withinthe opening 44 and vertical member 43 so that the top portion 42 of thetoy 40 can rotate relative to the handlebar assembly 24. Preferably, thetop portion 42 can rotate 360 degrees relative to the handlebar assembly24 with the elongate member 48 inserted into the vertical member 43.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded view of the handlebar assembly 24 and toy40. In some embodiments, the toy 40 includes more than one removableportion. As illustrated, the toy 40 includes a top portion 42 and anelongate member 48 that includes a first member 60 and a second member62. Preferably, the first member 60 is removably coupled to the topportion 42 and a portion of the first member 60 is received within thetop portion 42. The first member 60 is also removably coupled to thesecond member 62. Preferably, a portion of the first member 60 isreceived within the second member 62. Preferably, the first member 60includes one or more pins 64 protruding outward from the surface of thefirst member 60. The second member 62 can include one or more voids oropenings 66. When a portion of the first member 60 is received into thesecond member 62, the one or more pins 64 engage the one or more voids66 and a portion of the one or more pins 64 enters into the one or movevoids 66 to restrict movement of the first member 60 relative to thesecond member 62. Preferably, the one or more pins 64 (e.g., biased pushpins) can be selectively removed from the one or more voids 66, and thefirst member 60 can be removed from the second member 62.

In one embodiment, the handlebar assembly 27 includes a gripper,retention member or friction ring 50 located adjacent the opening 44 andconfigured to engage the elongate member 48 of the toy 40. The ring 50can be removable from the handlebar assembly 24 and is preferablycoupled to the top of the vertical member 43 adjacent the opening 44.Preferably, the ring 50 is configured to frictionally engage theelongate member 48 of the toy 40 when the elongate member 48 is insertedinto the opening 44. In one embodiment, the ring 50 includes flaps orprotrusions 51 that extend inward from the outer edge of the ring 50.FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a ring 50 that includes protrusions51 and is configured to be coupled to a vertical member 43. Theprotrusions or flaps 51 can be configured to provide frictional contactwith the elongate member 48 to restrict movement of the elongate member48 within the opening 44 and the vertical member 43. This is beneficialbecause the elongate member 48 can be held in position within theopening 44 or vertical member 43 so that undesired movement of the toy40 relative to the handlebar assembly 24 is limited when the handlebarassembly 24 is subjected to outside forces. For example, the ring 50preferably applies a force to the elongate member 48 sufficient toretain the elongate member 48 within the opening 44 and vertical member43 when the scooter is subjected to bumps or other normal ridingconditions. The ring 50 can also be configured to apply a frictionalforce to the elongate member 48 sufficient to control the speed at whichthe elongate member 48 is inserted into or removed from the opening 44.This can provide more control to the rider and can protect the toy 40from being damaged during insertion or removal from the scooter.

Although the embodiments of the invention presented herein have beendisclosed in the context of certain preferred embodiments and examples,it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the inventionextends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to otheralternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obviousmodifications and equivalents thereof. Thus, it is intended that thescope of the invention herein disclosed should not be limited by theparticular embodiments described above, but should be determined only bya fair reading of the claims that follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A combination comprising: a scooter, comprising:a body having a deck and a footrest surface; a handlebar assemblyoperably coupled to the body, the handlebar assembly comprising avertical member extending upward relative to the deck, the verticalmember including a top portion, and a handlebar supported by thevertical member, the handlebar including grip portions that areaccessible to a user riding on the scooter; a stick toy comprising anelongate stick portion; wherein the vertical member of the handlebarassembly includes an opening adjacent to the top portion of the verticalmember, and the opening is configured to receive the elongate stickportion of the toy so that the toy is selectively securely supported bythe handlebar assembly.
 2. The scooter of claim 1, wherein the handlebarassembly includes a retention ring portion coupled to the verticalmember adjacent the opening, and the retention ring portion isconfigured to frictionally engage the elongate stick portion of the toy.3. The scooter of claim 2, wherein the retention ring portion includesat least one protruding member extending inward from an inner surface ofthe retention ring portion, and the at least one protruding memberfrictionally engages the elongate stick portion of the toy when theelongate stick portion is received within the opening.
 4. The scooter ofclaim 1, wherein the handlebar is supported by the vertical member at aposition in front of the vertical member.
 5. The scooter of claim 1,wherein the vertical member is a hollow tube having an inner surfacethat is sized and shaped to receive the elongate stick portion of thetoy.
 6. The scooter of claim 5, wherein a cross-section of the innersurface of the vertical member is circular.
 7. The scooter of claim 6,wherein the hollow tube is longer than the elongate stick portion of thetoy.
 8. A scooter comprising: a body having a deck and a footrestsurface; at least one front wheel and a rear wheel supported by thebody; a handlebar assembly coupled to the body and extending upward fromthe body, the handlebar assembly having a vertical member and ahandlebar supported by the vertical member, the handlebar including gripportions accessible to a user riding the scooter; wherein the verticalmember includes an upper portion that includes an opening, the openingbeing sized and shaped to receive an elongate stick portion of a sticktoy so that the stick toy is supported by the handlebar assembly.
 9. Thescooter of claim 8, wherein the vertical member is hollow and receivesthe elongate stick portion of the toy when the elongate stick portion ispassed through the opening.
 10. The scooter of claim 9, wherein thevertical member and the elongate stick portion are each cylindrical inshape.
 11. The scooter of claim 8, wherein the handlebar assemblyincludes a cap portion coupled to the vertical member adjacent theopening, the cap portion having a hole through which the elongate stickmember of the stick toy is passed.
 12. The scooter of claim 11, whereinthe cap portion is sized and shaped to frictionally engage the elongatestick member of the stick toy when it is passed through the hole andinto the opening.
 13. The scooter of claim 12, wherein the cap portionincludes one or more flap portions.
 14. The scooter of claim 8, whereinthe handlebar is coupled to the vertical member at a position below theopening.
 15. A scooter comprising: a body comprising a deck and a footrest surface, the body having a front portion and a rear portion; a pairof front wheels rotatably supported by the front portion of the body; arear wheel rotatably supported by the rear portion of the body; ahandlebar assembly supported by the front portion of the body, thehandlebar assembly including a handlebar supported by a vertical tube;and a stick toy having an elongate stick member and a head portion;wherein the vertical tube includes a top portion that is open and theelongate stick member of the stick toy is selectively received into theopen top portion of the vertical tube so that the elongate stick memberis stowed within the tube.
 16. The scooter of claim 15, wherein thehandlebar assembly includes a retention ring portion coupled to the topportion of the vertical tube, and the retention ring portionfrictionally engages the elongate stick member when the elongate memberis received into the vertical tube.
 17. The scooter of claim 16, whereinthe retention ring portion includes multiple flap portions thatfrictionally engage the elongate stick member.
 18. The scooter of claim15, wherein the handlebar is coupled to the vertical tube forward of andbelow the open top portion.